OTTERS may soon be a familiar sight in the River Weaver again after the latest population figures showed a dramatic rise.

The National Otter Survey for England, published by the Environment Agency, Wildlife Trusts, water companies and English Nature, has found that otter numbers in North West rivers like the Weaver have increased five-fold in the last 25 years.

The findings are good news for the animal, which suffered serious decline throughout Europe in the 1960s following the widespread use of pesticides.

It is thought that factors such as better water quality, improvements in fish stocks and changes to riverbank management are responsible for the population recovery.

Alastair Driver, the Environment Agency's national conservation manager, said: 'Despite the good news, we can't become complacent. Otters are not increasing as fast as we would like in some areas and we will need to concentrate on ways to protect the otter from the motor car - which continues to be one of the biggest threats.'

He added that the increase in the number of otters in the Weaver was a positive indication of the river's health and the wellbeing of the water environment and the animals it supports.

But Martin Spray, acting director general of The Wildlife Trusts, said there was some way to go before the otter population returns to the numbers of 40 years ago.

He said: 'While the report indicates a steady recovery there are still some significant gaps in otter distribution throughout England. Only about one third of the sites surveyed had evidence of otters and we are still some time away from the full recovery of historical numbers.'